The Sunday Mail
ZIMBABWE CRICKET has started the hunt for a new coach with the organisation’s chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani saying the recently fired Heath Streak is also free to reapply for the post.
The country’s cricket governing board last week sacked Streak and his entire coaching staff after the Chevrons failed to book a ticket to England 2019.
The axe also fell on the convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu, Under 19 coach Steve Mangongo and Zimbabwe A coaches Douglas Hondo and Wayne James.
The decision triggered serious debate in the cricket circles but ZC appear unmoved with Mukuhlani revealing that the hunt for a new Chevrons coach will start this week. “We are having an advert for the national team coaching post next (this) week,” said the ZC chairman.
“It’s open to everyone who obviously has the right credentials. It’s also open to Streak, if he feels he is the man for the job he can apply and the board will do the processes for all the candidates.” Streak feels let down and argues that the team was making some considerable progress under his watch. The former coach has a vocal army backing him with the ZC being accused of a knee jerk reaction.
However, Mukuhlani reckons the flake that his board is getting is unfair as they did everything to give the national team the perfect platform from which to launch their World Cup qualification campaign. The ZC boss added that it’s important to note that the fired coaches had failed to meet agreed targets.
“They had targets and could not attain the desired goals,” he said. “It’s easy to criticise the board when the team is losing. We understand that, but when a coach has failed to reach the targets should we just continue like that?
“For the next coach it’s also important for him to understand we are a different team with black players, white players and an Asian player…there is need to fully understand that and get the team forward.
“So I am sure in about six weeks all will be in place as we look forward to the upcoming tours by Australia and Sri Lanka in June.”
Who will be responsible for choosing the national team coach? “There are names we have shortlisted, it is too early to reveal them, but I can tell you that it will be a three-man selection panel,” Mukuhlani revealed.
Heath Streak succeeded Dav Whatmore in 2016 and enjoyed some considerable success but the World Cup debacle saw the ZC going down a path they must be growing accustomed to walking.
Over the past decade the Chevrons have been coached by Robin Brown, Walter Chawaguta, Allan Butcher, Mangongo, Whatmore and Streak.
How long the next coach will last is open to speculation.
